Which 10-code means Person in custody speak English?

• A. 10-21
• B. 10-30
• C. 10-22
• D. 10-27

Answer: (B)

10-codes are meant to convey quick status or requests, but language ability isn’t tied to a universal code. In practice, whether someone in custody speaks English is usually recorded in booking notes or handled by assigning an interpreter, not by a standard radio code. For example, common codes here refer to administrative actions or routine checks—one code often involves checking a driver’s license, another signals a radio discipline issue, and others cover on-scene contact or follow-up tasks. None of these standard meanings describe a language capability.

Because language indicators are agency-specific and typically handled at intake rather than through a fixed 10-code, the idea of a universal 10-code for “Person in custody speak English” doesn’t align with how these codes are used. If your department uses a language flag, it will be documented in internal records or handled via interpreter assignment rather than a universal code.